Answer Happy

News A The Standard (10 Nov 2021): "Almost one in four Hongkongers live in poverty" As many as 1.65 million citizens - 23.6 percent of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population - lived in poverty last year, the highest since 2009. The statistics were revealed in the government's Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2020, which was presented to the Commission on Poverty at its meeting held on Wednesday afternoon. The poverty line was set at 50 percent of the median monthly household income before policy intervention, taxation and social welfare transfers. ... After considering cash allowances and relief measures including public housing. 553,500 people remained in poverty indicating a poverty rate of 7.9 percent. It was 88,000 people fewer and a drop of 1.3 percentage points as compared to 2019... News B South China Morning Post. YP (15 Nov 2021): "Explainer: One-fifth of Hongkongers live in poverty. Here's what you need to know" Hong Kong released its annual Poverty Situation Report for 2020 last week, and the results were dire: roughly one in five Hongkongers, or 1.65 million people are living in poverty - the highest number in 12 years... The poverty line, first introduced by the government in 2013, is set at 50 per cent of the median monthly household income, without considering government aid. In 2020, the city's median monthly household income fell by 7.3 per cent compared to the previous year, dropping from HK$27,500 to HK$25,000. The poverty line for a 5-person household experienced the biggest drop with 9.5 per cent, from HK$22,000 to HK$20,000..Around 1.65 million people, or 23.6 per cent of the city's population, live in poverty. This is the highest rate since records began in 2009, when 1.35 million people, or 20.6 per cent of the population, met the criteria. The Report highlighted the fact that after government assistance, this number dropped to about 554,000, or 7.9 per cent of the population-the lowest number in five years... (a) In News A, it says that "Almost one in four Hongkongers live in poverty" while in News B, it is reported that “roughly one in five Hongkongers, or 1.65 million people, are living in poverty". Which of the articles is correct (2 marks)? Comment on why there are inconsistencies in the two newspapers (3 marks). (b) In News B, it says that “... the highest number in 12 years." but on the other hand, it also said it is "the lowest number in five years.". Does this mean the poverty situation in Hong Kong has improved and why (4 marks)? Comment on the inconsistencies of the two sentences (4 marks). (c) In News A, “The poverty line was set at 50 percent of the median monthly household income before policy intervention, taxation and social welfare transfers", what does this mean (3 marks)? Please give an example to illustrate what "medium" means. Use an example with only four households and show your calculation with numbers (4 marks).